CVE-2015-6017 in P-660HW-T1
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Forms/rpAuth_1 on ZyXEL P-660HW-T1 2 devices with ZyNOS firmware 3.40(AXH.0) allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) LoginPassword or (2) hiddenPassword parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6017 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the ZyXEL P-660HW-T1 2 broadband router device running ZyNOS firmware version 3.40(AXH.0). This vulnerability exists within the web-based administration interface, specifically in the Forms/rpAuth_1 component that handles authentication processes. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts by manipulating input parameters during the authentication workflow, potentially compromising the device's security and user data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the affected web form. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts through two primary parameters: LoginPassword and hiddenPassword. These parameters are processed without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected cross-site scripting issue where malicious payloads are reflected back to users through the web interface without proper encoding or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to the router's administrative interface. Once exploited, the malicious code could enable attackers to perform actions such as changing administrative passwords, modifying network configurations, or even redirecting traffic through the compromised device. This represents a significant threat to network security since the router serves as a gateway device, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to the entire local network. The vulnerability affects the device's authentication mechanism, undermining the security of the administrative interface that should protect against unauthorized access attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Device administrators should prioritize firmware updates from ZyXEL to address the identified XSS flaws, as the vendor would have likely released patches to correct the input validation issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a typical example of how authentication interfaces can become attack vectors when proper input sanitization is not implemented. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application attack vector that could lead to privilege escalation and persistent access within network environments, making it a critical concern for enterprise security teams.